The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-07

The Governor saws :

- A valuation or assessment of prop
erty, for the purposes of taxation, to be
lust, should be upon some basis of uni
formity and equality throughout the
State. If regulations are such that prop
erty in one county, or of one individual,
can be assessed and taxed at only one
half or two-thirds of its market value,
while that in another county, or of an
other individual, is assessed and taxed at
its market value, then those regulations
fall short of the constitutional require
ment. l deem a proper compliance with
this mandate of the Constitution one of
the most Important. although perhaps
one of the most difficult, duties imposed
upon you, for upon its proper discharge
depends that fair and equal distribution
of the burdens of government which
every taxpayer has a right to demand
The following shows the increase in
number of schools and of school attend
ance III the last two years
Number of schools September ~, 1854 i ,:s,4
Number of schools September ID, lss5 i. "a
Number of schools September ID, ls-d ,9lg
IAN increase in schools for 1886 over
1885 of 1875, and over 1884 of i1J schools.
The School attendance for 1884 WIS - .Sll
Inc Scnooi attehdaiice Tor 1850 was %.
The school attendance for 1876 was...-.. Il, g9s
IAN increase in 1885 over 1884 of 4. Ol6
pupils, and an increase in 1886 over 1885
of $3.50. or an increase for two years of
~ $50 in total attendance.
But though our public school system
is making such unmistakable progress,
and Is accomplishing great good, / am
impressed with the consciousness that ii
is not yet just what the State needs; that
by some means the training in our pub
lie schools should have a more direct
tendency 10 hit men and women for the
practical duties of their respective sta
tions in life. To this end there should
be, think, in our public schools some
other education than that obtained by
the mere coming of books"
With regard To railroad legislation the
Governor SAYS:
In my opinion the interests of the rail
roads and of the people, which are to a
! greater. extent than is generally imagined
identical, will be best subseryed by
/ proper legislation upon the subject be
/ fore antagonisms become 50 bitter that
vituperation and abuse supplant arg,l-
ment and deliberation, and passion and
prejudice warp Judgment. blind reason.
and dethrone Justice.
Il think there should be enactments
prohibiting unreasonable charges and un-
| Just Determinations between individuals.
and between localities, and that. beside
the civil remedies therefore, unreasona-
Bile charges and unjust discrimination by
| any common carrier should be made of
| fences against and be made punishable
by the State.
Experience in most of the States has
| demonstrated that the Commissioner
| system is a safe one for all interests
| when the Commissioners are able and in
! corruptible, conservative and Just men
though given ample powers and bound
by rules hav ing no little fiexibility."
The message embraces a short but
clear statement of the Okeechobee Drain
age question. and says that the Attorney,
General is doing all he can toprotect the
interest of the State.
Minor matters are presented TO the at
tention Of the Legislature. and full re-
! port Of '.Reprieves, Pardons and Com